CHENNAI: After the successful launch of 'Laboob Sager', the herbal Viagra, a state-owned corporation of Tamil Nadu government would soon launch yet another health product - herbal drinking water, claimed to be first of its kind in the country.

It contained herbal extracts with useful bio-active properties that play a major role in maintaining good health as evidenced by Siddha and Ayurveda literatures and modern scientific studies, Tamil Nadu Medicinal Plant Farms and Herbal Medicines Corporation Ltd. (TAMPCOL) officials said.

The herbal water, to be sold in 1,000 ml and 500 ml pet bottles and competitively priced in the growing mineral water market, was likely to be launched in the next two months, company Chairman and Managing Director G A Rajkumar said.

TAMPCOL was in the final process of getting the ISI certificate and other related licences, he said.

The company had recently launched 'Laboob Sager', herbal aphrodisiac using an ancient 'Sastric' Unani formulation, billing the drug as substitute for the costly Viagra with "no side effects" and it become a runaway hit with good demand.

Rajkumar said the herbal extracts that would be added with the water include 'tulsi' (holy basil), 'nannari' (Indian sarasaparilla) and 'Adhimadhuram' (licorice).

"Volatile active properties from these herbal extracts are obtained by steam distillation process and are mixed with the drinking water in suitable proportions," Rajkumar said.

CHENNAI: Tampcol, a State government undertaking, has got licence to manufacture 10 Unani products to treat skin and digestive diseases. Research is under way to prepare medicines for various other ailments, its chairman and managing director G.A.Rajkumar said at a function at Arignar Anna Government Hospital for Indian Medicine in the city on Monday.

Speaking at the function to launch the eighth Unani product ‘Laboob Sagheer’, he said proposals were afoot to improve infrastructure at the Government Unani Medical College with Rs.2 crore sanctioned by the Central government three months ago. Tampcol was one of the few public sector undertakings in the State that has declared 100 per cent dividend for the past two financial years.

Tampcol, which manufactures 62 Siddha, 14 Ayurveda and seven Unani medicines, has recorded an increase in its annual turnover from Rs.6 crore in 2002 to Rs.14 crore in 2008-09, he said.

Principal Health Secretary V. K. Subburaj said efforts were being made to improve facilities at the Unani Medical College. About 60 teachers have been appointed at the college.

On ‘Laboob Sagheer,’ Tampcol’s director S.K.Khadri said it is a medicine to treat infertility among men.